Much of the area is under a moderate risk for severe storms, according to the National Weather Service. Some storms could produce winds of 65 to 75 mph, and isolated tornadoes are possible.<\/p>\n
More gusty winds are expected in the D.C. region Monday evening after earlier rainfall left behind puddling or flooding on some area roadways.<\/p>\n
Severe storms swept through late Monday morning and early in the afternoon, packing gusts up to 60 mph and heavy downpours.<\/p>\n
More rough weather in the form of thunderstorms and strong wind gusts is expected to hit the D.C. area Monday evening as a cold front approaches.<\/p>\n
These watches and warnings from the National Weather Service are in effect for the D.C. region:<\/p>\n
Flood warning for parts of Montgomery County, Maryland, as well as Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax and the City of Falls Church in Virginia until 6:30 p.m.
\nCoastal flood warning along the shoreline in Anne Arundel County until 10 p.m.
\nWind advisory from 8 p.m. until midnight, with wind gusts up to 60 mph.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne more band of strong, possibly severe thunderstorms will move through this evening,\u201d WTOP Meteorologist Mike Stinneford said. \u201cThey\u2019ll be enough to bring down some trees and power lines.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parts of central Maryland and Northern Virginia are under a flood warning as small streams were overwhelmed by rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n
Rainfall rates reached 3 to 5 inches an hour Monday afternoon, Stinneford said.<\/p>\n
Some area roadways experienced puddling or flooding, including Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway.<\/p>\n
Blinding rainfall around 2 p.m. led to major still-water flooding on the Beltway at the American Legion Bridge. It\u2019s not usually a spot that experiences recurring roadway flooding, but water up to a foot deep pooled on the Outer Loop between the Jersey walls.<\/p>\n
One car stalled in the high water. Maryland authorities responded about an hour after the flooding began and stopped traffic for about 15 minutes as they probed for storm drains.<\/p>\n
On I-270, six of seven southbound lanes were submerged by high water near the lane divide in Bethesda. Several other areas of deep water developed on I-270 northbound near Montrose Road and the Inner Loop near River Road. It receded by 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Stick with WTOP Traffic<\/a> for the latest on conditions.<\/p>\n The National Weather Service canceled a tornado watch early. It was originally slated to last until 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Tornado warnings popped up for parts of the D.C. region earlier in the day as the National Weather Service spotted rotations on the radar.<\/p>\n Storms moved through at 55 mph, packing powerful winds as high as 60 mph and knocking out power for thousands of homes.<\/p>\n The National Weather advised that storms would move \u201cvery rapidly\u201d and to \u201ctake action\u201d when \u201cwarnings are issued,\u201d not wait until one can hear or see signs of them.<\/p>\n Behind the storms, a strong cold front will sweep through, bringing a dramatic shift in conditions for St. Patrick\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n The storms and rainfall are expected to wrap up overnight; a few wet snowflakes may mix in after midnight as temperatures plummet into the 20s and 30s.<\/p>\n Tuesday will feel much more like winter returning to the region, as high temperatures may struggle to reach the upper 30s to mid 40s, and gusty northwest winds could make it feel closer to the 20s and 30s. Wind gusts reaching 40 mph are possible, adding to the chilly feel.<\/p>\n Students and federal workers sent home early<\/p>\n Ahead of Monday\u2019s stormy weather, much of the area was placed under a moderate risk for severe storms: Level 4 out of 5, according to the National Weather Service\u2019s Storm Prediction Center. That designation is rarely issued for the D.C. region.<\/p>\n Federal employees were authorized for early departure by the Office of Personnel Management.<\/p>\n Schools across the D.C. closed or dismissed students early in anticipation of severe weather. A full list is available on WTOP.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n